Why are blue finishes more durable tha CC?

[Craig Larter]

Why does rust blue on barrels generally hold up better to wear versus CC?? Do blued finishes penetrate deeper into the metal?? Why does blue on Parker lower grade trigger guards (Trojan, VH, PH etc.) wear so quickly??

[Dean Romig]

As I understand it, the rusting of the barrels causes microscopic pitting allowing the bluing to lay deeper in the steel than if the surface was simply smooth.
Color case hardening creates a layer of carbon particles to adhere to the smooth surface of the steel. The hardness goes a few thousandths into the steel but the particles creating the color are only on the surface.





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[B. Dudley]

Guards are nitre blued vs barrels are rust blued. Rust blue is more durable.

[Craig Larter]

Brain: Thanks, is nitre blue faster and less costly process?

[Craig Budgeon]

Another way of expressing it is that rusting bluing is achieved by applying multiple layers of rust which is carded off until the desired depth of blue is achieved. Case color is a pleasant side affect from the necessary process of casehardening and has very little durability unless the parts are externally lacquered. Nitre blue is another heat related process which has little durability and little depth but is inexpensive for manufacturers

[MD*GSP]

Originally Posted by Craig Budgeon

Another way of expressing it is that rusting bluing is achieved by applying multiple layers of rust which is carded off until the desired depth of blue is achieved. Case color is a pleasant side affect from the necessary process of casehardening and has very little durability unless the parts are externally lacquered. Nitre blue is another heat related process which has little durability and little depth but is inexpensive for manufacturers

Forgive me if I'm commenting beyond the intent of this thread but, I have yet to find a lacquer or, any other coating that can be applied in a manner that comes anywhere close to replicating the beauty of engraving upon bare metal.

Now, to topic - are there any manufacturers that rust blued trigger guards and other appointments, save screw-heads, in general practice? I'm 'guessing' Parker? The guards and SBP's on my PR's appear to have the soft glow of rust bluing.

[King Cobb]

In some ways CCH is more dureable. Even if the case coors are not visible anymore the protection remains. Not really what you were mening I know but i couldn't help myself.

[Craig Budgeon]

Lacquer is clear and protects the CC to a point. Marlin used it on there L.C. Smiths and some rifles , Turnbull has used it, and Galazan has sold it. Oh you'll be able to see your engraving just fine if its used on an engraved gun, provided you don't choose a 5 yo to apply it. Perhaps Win. 21's, Tobin, and some Bakers used a hot blue on receivers and trigger guards but I doubt it was rust blue ------- to labor intensive.

[MD*GSP]

Originally Posted by Craig Budgeon

Lacquer is clear and protects the CC to a point. Marlin used it on there L.C. Smiths and some rifles , Turnbull has used it, and Galazan has sold it. Oh you'll be able to see your engraving just fine if its used on an engraved gun, provided you don't choose a 5 yo to apply it. Perhaps Win. 21's, Tobin, and some Bakers used a hot blue on receivers and trigger guards but I doubt it was rust blue ------- to labor intensive.

To my eye the application of a protective film brings forth a lack of third dimensional depth and that inconsistent depth of field takes away from the artistic realism of the scenes found in the Parker style of engraving. Parker engraving screams nostalgia in a manner that "takes you there" so to speak, to me. Perhaps I'm just a shade critical or, perhaps perfection is my curse but, somehow the engraved lines filled with "something" seems to detract.

Please, share the material that you use and, your technique.

[J. A. EARLY]

My two cents on the clear lacquer, I've got a couple of guns with either good original colors or ones that have been redone. Wanting to use the guns and not wear them, I used clear "brushing" lacquer which is available at Lowes. Cheap, about $10 a quart which will do a thousand guns.

Here is what I found. If there is no lacquer there, it goes on perfectly and smoothes out streak-free with an artist brush. If there is a existing coat, it streaks because the new breaks down the old. The solution is to remove old coats which one of the refinished guns had. When I nitre blue trigger guards I can protect them with a coat of clear and it makes the blue deeper and offers protection so I don't have to do them over. It will wear through eventually. Remove it and clear them again.